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WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 2, 2008) - A group of Texans is
offering a warm embrace to make sure wounded servicemembers aren't
forgotten.
A three-person team from Operation Military Embrace has been
making weekly visits to servicemembers recovering at Brooke Army
Medical Center, on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and their families
since December 2005.
"Operation Military Embrace ... has visited the inpatients on a
Sunday while setting up and serving breakfast to the outpatients in
the day room of the 'med hold' barracks on the (following) Monday
morning," said Jerry Reed, a former Marine and the organization's
president and executive director. The group also sets up a "free
PX" that provides simple necessities, he added.
The group's efforts also include outings that take recovering
servicemembers to local restaurants. Those who are able can
participate in Operation Military Embrace-organized hunting and
fishing trips, as well.
"Brenda Kaiser offers her ranch to BAMC warriors in transition
and their families for quiet, peaceful weekends away (from the
hospital), where they can hunt and fish and relax with their
families in ... solitude," Reed said. Kaiser is the group's vice
president.
The group doesn't stop with morale-boosting activities for
servicemembers, however. It also helps take care of practical needs
through financial grants and financing of legal assistance.
Operation Military Embrace recently became a supporter of
America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting
citizens and corporations with military personnel and their family
members serving at home and abroad.
"We expect to benefit (from the affiliation) by gaining exposure
nationally and by being able to share with others what we are doing
to help our men and women in uniform," Reed said.
Reed and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of a Marine veteran
and an active-duty Marine.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
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